Disposable ice massage apparatus

Abstract

This invention relates to the field of medical devices and particulary to a system for use for cryotherapy to injuries. The apparatus can be comprised of a container comprising a bottom surface and a body comprising at least one horizontal circumferential score line, wherein the bottom surface is attached to the body so as to form a container open at one end, where the horizontal circumferential score line facilitates the removal of a portion of the body of the container to enable a user to easily expose a layer of ice for purposes of cryotherapy. Such a system can also include a tray for holding several of such ice massage devices and a hooded enclosure for and protected and efficient storage of such a tray with such massage devices within a freezer space.

1 . A container comprising a bottom surface, a body comprising at least one horizontal circumferential score line, wherein said bottom surface is attached to said body so as to form a container open at one end and wherein said horizontal circumferential score line facilitates the removal of a portion of the body of the container.  
   
   
       2 . The container of  claim 1  further comprising at least one vertical score line wherein said score line facilitates the removal of a portion of the body of the container.  
   
   
       3 . The container of  claim 1  comprising stabilizing structures added to the bottom surface of the body.  
   
   
       4 . The container of  claim 1  comprising stabilizing structures added to the sidewalls of the container.  
   
   
       5 . The container of  claim 1  wherein said container comprises a material so as to render the container capable of holding a liquid.  
   
   
       6 . The container of  claim 5  wherein the liquid comprises water.  
   
   
       7 . The container of  claim 5  wherein the liquid comprises an ingredient selected from the list of: flavor, medicine, fragrance, or food.  
   
   
       8 . The container of  claim 5  wherein the liquid is capable of forming a solid.  
   
   
       9 . The container of  claim 5  wherein said container comprises one or more symbols on the surface.  
   
   
       10 . The container of  claim 9  wherein said symbol is a trademark, logo, advertisement, or description.  
   
   
       11 . An apparatus for holding a plurality of containers wherein each container is open at one end and comprises at least one horizontal circumferential score line, wherein said horizontal circumferential score line facilitates the removal of a portion of the body of the container.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein each container further comprises at least one vertical score line wherein said score line facilitates the removal of a portion of the body of the container.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein one of said containers can be removed without removing the plurality of the containers.  
   
   
       14 . A device for isolating at least one apparatus of  claim 11 , in combination with a container open at one end, from the external environmental, wherein said container comprises at least one horizontal circumferential score line or at least one vertical score line, wherein said score line facilitates the removal of a portion of the body of the container.  
   
   
       15 . A method for relieving pain associated with an injured body part, said method comprising: 
 placing a liquid capable of forming a substantially solid composition in a container adapted for holding said liquid, wherein said container is open at one end and comprises at least one horizontal circumferential score line that facilitates the removal of a portion of the body of the container;    allowing said liquid to form a substantially solid composition; and    applying said substantially solid composition to said injured body part.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said container contains stabilizing structures to facilitate crystallization of the liquid around said spokes.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said substantially solid composition is obtained by freezing.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said substantially solid composition is obtained by chemical or physical reaction.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said liquid comprises water.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said liquid comprises, a medicine, or a fragrance.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said container further comprises at least one vertical score line wherein said score line facilitates the removal of a portion of the body of the container.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said container comprises a trademark or company logo on the exterior surface.  
   
   
       23 . A method for relieving pain associated with an injured body part, said method comprising: 
 placing a liquid capable of forming a substantially solid composition in a container adapted for holding said liquid, wherein said container is open at one end and comprises at least one horizontal circumferential score line that facilitates the removal of a portion of the body of the container;    allowing said liquid to form a substantially solid composition;    removing the portion of the container between the open end of the container and the horizontal circumferential score line; and    applying said substantially solid composition to said injured body part.    
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23  wherein said container contains stabilizing structures to facilitate crystallization of the liquid around said spokes.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 23  wherein said substantially solid composition is obtained by freezing.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 23  wherein said substantially solid composition is obtained by chemical or physical reaction.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 23  wherein said liquid comprises water.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 23  wherein said liquid comprises, a medicine, or a fragrance.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 23  wherein said container further comprises at least one vertical score line wherein said score line facilitates the removal of a portion of the body of the container.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 23  wherein said container comprises a trademark or company logo on the exterior surface.  
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 23  wherein said container comprises a plurality of horizontal circumferential score lines that facilitates the removal of a portion of the body of the container; 
 allowing said liquid to form a substantially solid composition;    removing the portion of the container between the open end of the container and any of the plurality of horizontal circumferential score lines; and    applying said substantially solid composition to said injured body part.    
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 31  wherein said container contains stabilizing structures to facilitate crystallization of the liquid around said spokes.  
   
   
       33 . A method of advertising comprising placing a symbol on a container, wherein said container comprises a bottom surface and a body comprising at least one horizontal circumferential score line, wherein said bottom surface is attached to said body so as to form a container open at one end and wherein said horizontal circumferential score line facilitates the removal of a portion of the body of the container, and providing it for use in a method of relieving pain using frozen liquid.  
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 33  wherein the container further comprises at least one vertical score line wherein said score line facilitates the removal of a portion of the body of the container.  
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 33  wherein said container contains stabilizing structures to facilitate crystallization of the liquid around said spokes.  
   
   
       36 . A removable device for creating an enclosed space within a freezer protected from the external environmental, wherein said external environment is the interior of a freezer.  
   
   
       37 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the bottom surface is spherical.  
   
   
       38 . The container of  claim 3  wherein said stabilizing structures are coated with a substance to promote ice crystal nucleation.  
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said liquid comprises a substance to promote ice crystal nucleation.  
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 16  wherein said stabilizing structures are coated with a substance to promote ice crystal nucleation.  
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 23  wherein said liquid comprises a substance to promote ice crystal nucleation.  
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 24  wherein said stabilizing structures are coated with a substance to promote ice crystal nucleation.  
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 35  wherein said stabilizing structures are coated with a substance to promote ice crystal nucleation.